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Poplar Tentmaker – Clostera inclusa

Written by Amisha on .

Poplar Tentmaker: Clostera inclusa Common Name: Poplar Tentmaker Latin Name: Clostera inclusa Appearance:  Poplar Tentmaker moths are tiny to medium-sized arthropods. Its wings are about 1 to 1.5 inches (2.5 to 4 cm) long. The front wings are usually grey or brown and have wavy lines and small spots on them. Its back wings are lighter and don’t have any unique marks. Host Plants: The Poplar Tentmaker caterpillars eat mostly the leaves of different kinds of poplar and willow trees. They are known for being able to make houses or homes out of leaves, which they use to stay safe while they eat. Territory: Poplar Tentmakers can be found in North America, ranging from Canada down to Mexico. Damages caused by Poplar Tentmaker: The caterpillars of the Poplar Tentmaker can hurt the plants that they live on. They eat the leaves, and if there are a lot of them, the trees may lose their leaves. Even though they can hurt the looks of decorative trees, they are usually not seen as a significant health risk to healthy trees that have been there for a while. Life History and Habits:
  • Eggs:Poplar Tentmaker moth females lay small, oval-shaped eggs on the leaves of plants that they inhabit. It takes about one to two weeks for these eggs to hatch.
  • Larva:Caterpillars are known for building houses or tents out of leaves, which is a very unusual behaviour. They use silk to connect leaves to make a safe space where they can eat and rest. Most of the time, the caterpillars are green with black spots and a yellow line that makes them stand out.
  • Pupa:When the caterpillars are fully grown, they leave their homes and look for an excellent place to pupate. Inside a cocoon made of silk and pieces of leaf, they make a pupa.
  • Adult Moth:The adult Poplar Tentmaker butterfly comes out of the cocoon after a period of pupation, which can last anywhere from a few weeks to several months, based on the conditions of the host plant. Moth adults only come out at night and are drawn to lights. People who own them don’t feed them, and they only live for about one to two weeks on average.